P&G India announced six-month leave for employees who adopt kids and this has won many hearts

The Indian subsidiary of Procter & Gamble, the American multinational consumer goods company, has decided to introduce a new policy which will allow its employees a paid leave of six months when they adopt a child. The initiative is a part of its industry-leading efforts, which has seen it been counted amongst the first few companies in India to grant maternity leave of six months.

The new policy makes both male and female employees eligible for this paid leave if they are the primary caregivers.

"The intent of launching the Adoption Leave Policy is to lead the way for the industry as we see the adoption trend rising in the near future," Sonali Roychowdhury, HR director at P&G India, told ET.

"We expect the trend to pick up, especially as P&G India is a very young organisation with an average age of 28-29," she said. Reportedly, the number of P&G employees who have adopted children has doubled in the past two years.

Not only this, P&G India has also upgraded its flexible working policy which would allow employees to work from home for as many days as their manager allows.

"We are reaffirming our commitment to 'flex@work' by providing greater flexibility in critical life stages like return from maternity/paternity, taking care of ageing parents, attending to a family member who is sick, etc," Roychowdhury said.

It was five years ago that P&G had introduced a maternity leave of six months, setting an example for other companies to follow. With this move, it surely has become an example for its peers.

Image source